What athletes wish they knew sooner.

What do elite athletes wish they’d done before hanging up the boots, taking of their pads for the last time or laying down their ore? What conversations do they look back on and wish they’d had? What preparation really counts? This week, we take a different approach.

Instead of a guest, Karl and James dive into the biggest lessons, recurring themes, and behind-the-scenes insights that have emerged from hundreds of conversations with elite athletes who’ve made the leap from sport to life beyond the game.

From Olympians to international rugby players, cricketers and footballers, these are the truths we’ve heard time and time again, and the practical takeaways we want every current athlete to hear before the lights go out.

Key Takeaways:

• Curiosity leads to clarity.
• Conversations change careers.
• Your network is your edge.
• Reframe rejection and injury as opportunity.
• Your mindset is a superpower.

If you’re an athlete thinking about what’s next, or someone who supports them, this episode is packed with the insight, honesty, and actionable advice you’ve come to expect from Athlete to Athlete.

About the Hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Cheetahs, Kings, Bath, and Zebre Parma hooker, Jacques du Toit, has lived the highs of professional rugby, winning Currie Cups, playing in Super Rugby and the Premiership, and representing South Africa at the U’20’s World Cup, but also the deep challenges that come when the game ends. In this episode, Jacques shares a raw and honest reflection on his transition journey, from struggling to let go of his rugby identity to rediscovering his purpose beyond the pitch.

Key takeaways:

· Why having people who stand by you through the dark days, are crucial during transition.

· How stepping away from rugby left a void of identity and structure, and why athletes must prepare early to avoid the same shock.

· The unique soft skills athletes don’t realise they already have.

· The mistake of trying to separate completely from rugby.

· Why curiosity, networking, and engaging with the people around your sport can open unexpected doors.

· How he’s now channelling his energy into Leap Digital, his growing marketing business, proving that building a fulfilling second chapter is possible.

Alongside his wife, Ilse they have founded Leap Digital, their mission being to empower businesses to stand out and thrive with innovative, tailored digital marketing solutions - Learn More About Leap Digital

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Croatian international and professional volleyball player, Bernarda Brčić, has lived the highs of life on the court, competing for her country, playing across Europe, and building a career defined by discipline and performance. But what happens when the final whistle blows?

In this powerful conversation, Bernarda opens up about the reality of transition, from losing her sense of identity after retirement to rediscovering herself as a coach and mentor. She speaks with raw honesty about the struggles athletes face when structure disappears, when hobbies don’t exist outside of sport, and when the people around you have moved on with their lives.

Key takeaways from Bernarda’s journey:

• Your skills are transferable: even if you don’t realise it while playing, leadership, management, and adaptability are built into your career.
• Start exploring early: don’t wait until after retirement to figure out who you are and what excites you outside of sport.
• Identity is fragile: losing the jersey can leave a void, but talking, reflecting, and taking ownership of your choices helps you move forward.
• Be kind to yourself: the perfectionist athlete mindset doesn’t always serve you after sport. Growth takes patience, self-compassion, and perspective.
• Stay present: life is unpredictable, embracing gratitude and living day by day is a powerful way to create fulfilment beyond the game.

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.